Main line rail industry news – Page 443
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NewsNS repatriates train leasing
NETHERLANDS: National passenger operator NS announced on February 26 that the fleet of around 400 trainsets which it uses on the main line network is now being leased from Netherlands-based NS Lease, rather than Irish-registered NS Financial Services Co Ltd. This means taxes will now be paid locally. Dublin-based NSFSC ...
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NewsTurkmenistan – Afghanistan railway modernised
ASIA: A ceremony to mark the completion of work to upgrade the 13 km rail link between Serhetabat in southern Turkmenistan and Towraghondi in northern Afghanistan took place on February 23. This formed part of a pair of ceremonies which were held in Turkmenistan and Afghanistan to mark the completion ...
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NewsNext section of Moscow metro Line 11 opens
RUSSIA: Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin opened a 10·5 km metro line on February 26. The line from Delovoy Tsentr to Petrovsky Park with five stations will initially be operated as part of Line 11. Construction started in November 2011. Later this year the line is due to be extended ...
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NewsFuel cell train development funding
GERMANY: The Federal Ministry for Transport & Digital Infrastructure is to provide Siemens and RWTH Aachen University with €12m to support the development of more efficient fuel cells which would offer a longer life cycle and higher power density. In November 2017 Siemens and Canadian fuel cell manufacturer Ballard Power ...
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NewsDB opens carbon-neutral ICE depot
GERMANY: DB inaugurated a carbon-neutral ICE depot in the Nippes area of Köln on February 23. The 23 ha site is expected to reduce energy equivalent to 1 000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year through various features, including geothermal heating and cooling. A 180 m2 solar heating ...
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NewsWorld rail freight news round-up
In conjunction with freight operator Ferrosur Roca, Argentina’s Ministry of Transport has conducted trial piggyback movements carrying lorry semi-trailers between Spegazzinni in Buenos Aires province and the port of Bahía Blanca. Wagons for the trial were supplied by Vale Argentina SA. At cost of €5·1m, Slovenia Railways’ freight business has ...
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NewsRSSB calls for a more scientific approach to train seat comfort
UK: The Rail Safety & Standards Board has called for a more scientific approach to measuring train seat comfort, with the aim of developing specifications which manufacturers could use alongside requirements for crashworthiness and fire safety. This would take into account factors including shape, cushioning, material choice, lumbar support, vibration, ...
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NewsZillertalbahn plans switch to hydrogen power
AUSTRIA: Plans to convert the 760 mm gauge Zillertalbahn which links Jenbach with Mayrhofen from diesel to hydrogen fuel were announced by operator ZVB in February. The cost is estimated at €80m, with revenue hydrogen operations envisaged for 2022. Around 30% of the hydroelectric power generated in Tirol comes from ...
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NewsGE and Ukrainian Railways sign US$1bn locomotive agreement
UKRAINE: A US$1bn framework agreement to support the modernisation of the rail network in 2018-34 was signed by Ukrainian Railways and GE Transportation on February 23. The largest agreement which GE has signed in Ukraine includes the supply of 30 TE33A Evolution Series diesel freight locomotives from Erie in the ...
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NewsAbellio pulls out of Wales & Borders bidding
UK: Abellio Rail Cymru withdrew from bidding for the next Wales & Borders franchise on February 22, leaving KeolisAmey and MTR Corp (Cymru) Ltd as the two remaining bidders. NS subsidiary Abellio had been bidding for the Wales & Borders Operator & Development Partner contract in consortium with Carillion. Franchising ...
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NewsSagaRail targets low-cost weekend market
SWEDEN: Private open access company SagaRail ran its first service on February 23. The company is initially offering one return service between Stockholm and Linköping on Fridays and Sundays, running via Nyköping and Norrköping with a journey time of around 2 h. SagaRail is the ‘traffic organiser’, and has awarded ...
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NewsHydrogen is a technically feasible alternative to electrification, Toronto study finds
CANADA: It be would technically and economically feasible to operate the Toronto area’s future Regional Express Rail passenger services using hydrogen fuel cells instead of conventional overhead electrification, a study has concluded. The lifetime costs would be similar, but the use of hydrogen would be a ‘world first’ on such ...
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NewsBelgrano renewals reach 400 km
ARGENTINA: The Ministry of Transport announced on February 21 that its track renewals programme on the 1 000 mm gauge Belgrano network had completed 400 km of the 535 km to be upgraded under the first phase. Involving the replacement of wooden sleepers with concrete, new rail and reballasting with ...
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NewsGWR leads the pack at 20th Rail Business Awards
UK: Great Western Railway was announced as Rail Business of the Year and ScotRail Alliance Managing Director Alex Hynes was named Industry Leader of the Year at the 20th Rail Business Awards. Hosted by Railway Gazette at London’s Hilton hotel on Park Lane on February 22, the event bought together ...
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NewsRailway supply industry news round-up
On February 12 CEN, CENELEC and the European Union Agency for Railways signed a renewed agreement for co-operation in the provision of technical documents covering safety and interoperability. Jacobs Engineering Group and Atos have announced a non-exclusive collaboration agreement to provide predictive, condition-based maintenance services Strukton Rail has completed the ...
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NewsEuston Master Development Partner selected
UK: High speed line project promoter HS2 Ltd announced on February 22 that Network Rail and the Secretary of State for Transport had selected Lendlease as the Master Development Partner for London Euston station. The MDP is to work with the Greater London Authority and London Borough of Camden to ...
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NewsSofia – Plovdiv route modernisation funding
BULGARIA: The European Commission has allocated €471m from the Operational Programme Transport & Transport Infrastructure for a three-phase project to modernise the 51 km Elin Pelin – Kostenets section of the Sofia – Plovdiv main line. This aim is to enhance the double-track electrified route to permit freight trains to ...
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NewsAmey takes over ‘key’ Carillion rail contracts
UK: Amey Rail Ltd acquired ‘a significant number’ of Network Rail infrastructure contracts previously held by Carillion Construction Ltd on February 22. This follows Carillion’s entry into liquidation on January 15. The contracts include Infrastructure Projects Central Panel work for the East Coast and Midland main lines, Crossrail (Old Oak ...
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NewsModertrans delivers first updated Moderus Beta tram
POLAND: MPK Wrocław has taken delivery of the first of 40 Moderus Beta trams of a new design at its Borek depot. This is the first new-look Moderus Beta tram that Poznań-based supplier Modertrans has produced. The 27% low-floor tram features redesigned front ends, LED lighting and AC traction ...
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NewsFive consortia shortlisted for Cross River Rail
AUSTRALIA: The Queensland state government has shortlisted ‘a strong field of national and multinational companies’ to bid for the two main works packages to build and equip the A$5·4bn Cross River Rail link in Brisbane, Deputy Premier Jackie Trad announced on February 20. The Cross River Rail Delivery Authority invited ...